Family favourite Italian restaurant chain reveals six exact locations shutting – see the full list
SHUTTERS DOWN Family favourite Italian restaurant chain reveals six exact locations shutting – see the full list
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A POPULAR restaurant chain has revealed it's closing six of its locations across the UK.
Italian chain Gusto said yesterday it would have to close its "economically unviable" restaurants as part of a deal to save the brand.
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The restaurant chain is closing six 'economically unviable' restaurants as it faces collapse
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It is being taken over by private equity investment firm Cherry Equity Partners through a pre-pack administration process.
This is an insolvency process for a business to sell its assets before appointing administrators.
Gusto has now announced which of its 13 sites are set to shut for good.
They are:
Alderley Edge
Cookridge
Edinburgh
Heswall
Leeds
Newcastle.
The sites remaining open are:
Liverpool (Albert Dock)
Birmingham
Cheadle
Knutsford
Manchester
Nottingham
Oxford.
The closures mean 190 jobs will be lost but a further 300 will be saved.
Paul Moran, chief executive of Gusto Restaurants, said yesterday: "We are profoundly sorry to see six of our restaurants close and are tremendously grateful for the support of our staff and our loyal customers at these locations over the years…
"This investment marks an important step forward for Gusto, ensuring the future of the business and putting in place a strong and stable platform upon which we can start to grow the business again."
Huge restaurant chain 'up for sale' putting 70 sites at risk of closure
Gusto offers classic Italian meals including pastas and sourdough pizzas.
It also hosts Italian-style bottomless brunches and pizza-making experiences.
What does it mean when a company goes into administration?
ADMINISTRATION is when all control of a company is passed to an appointed to a licensed insolvency practitioner.
It doesn't necessarily mean the end of the business.
Instead, administrators will try to help a company find ways to repay debts or solve its cashflow problems.
Administration can last anywhere from a few weeks to up to a year or more.
But if the administration process can't rescue the company or find a new owner, this can lead to liquidation.
Liquidation is the process of selling all assets and then dissolving the company completely.
Restaurants and pubs have been struggling after a series of challenges in recent years.
They've cited the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and increasing taxes on businesses for increasing closures and chains collapsing into administration.
One of the latest chains to crash into administration was Busaba Eathai, which was created by the founder of Wagamama.
The Thai chain had operated 16 restaurants at its peak but this was reduced to 12 following a CVA in 2020.
Posh chain Oakman Inns & Restaurants also said it would close six sites and transfer a further 12 as part of its administration.
It blamed the hangover from the pandemic and elevated interest rates.
Plus, BrewDog announced it would close 10 sites last week - including its flagship branch in Aberdeen.
The pub chain already closed six sites at the start of the year following a £63million loss.
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